How to make a mixed media Valentine Postcards
Feb 5th, 2008 by iHanna
Since February is the month of Valentine and love, hearts pop up everywhere and remind us about how strong and beautiful love is. 
I signed up for a Valentine swap and I am sending out 10 Valentine postcards to people all over the world. In return I will get 10 special postcards made with love from other artists. Making 10 similar cards gave me a fun opportunity to experiment with my material and play a bit. To me art is all about play and having fun. Postcards are a lot of fun to make - and receive!
Here is a step-by-step tutorial if you want to try to make a fabric heart-postcard yourself!
Tutorial: Make Valentine Postcards with your Heart
1. Sewing the stripes together
I took some small stripes (about 4 cm/1,5 inch wide) of cotton fabric in different red shades that was discarded from a quilting project, and sewed them together, forming a square. You need about four or five different fabrics with a lenght of at least 10 cm (4 inches), but it’s easier to handle if they are longer. You can cut of the excess when you shape the heart in the next step!
2. Cut your heart out
From that square I cut out a heart shape that would fit a postcard. I cut mine freehand but you can make a pattern by first drawing a heart on paper and pinning it to your fabric and cutting after that. But remember, it’s not supposed to look perfect. Just like humans, hearts are imperfect and still beautiful. We’re only playing, remember?
3. Find a background piece
Then sew the heart into a postcard sized background. You can use fabric or thin paper and later glue your design to card stock. The card stock makes the card sturdy so you can write on the backside. If you want to decorate the postcard with more sewing and embellishment I recommend to use fabric as background. You can either sew the heart in place by hand or machine, your choice!
4. Go wild!
When you have the card shape with the heart shape, it’s time to look into your stash and decorate to your hearts content. Use my cards below as inspiration. You can add more fabric, lace, sequins, rocaille beads, buttons, ribbons, fussy yarn and embroidery thread.
Have fun!
Like I said, after the first patchwork hearts I did some experimenting. Sewing the heart to paper, sewing paper to fabric… I had so much fun making these. I’m thinking about a art series featuring more hearts right now.
To me my postcards speak of passion and warmth, and I hope all of them will make the receiver happy.
When I had finished my cards I found out that Purl-bee also made Valentine cards using fabric and paper, but hers are more romantic and not so wild as mine. Check those out too, they are very cute!
Also check out Artist Spotlight: Hanna Andersson at Go-make-art.com!
ohh I love these! I don’t do valentines, since my hubby hates the commercial aspect of it… but these are so pretty and wild and just how I love postcards to be! so maybe I should make him a valentine this year anyhow? :)
thanks for always inspiring me!
*hugs* Elisabeth
Your postcards are so cute! *^v^*
BTW, I received your parcel today (sugar all over the envelope, but not a single pearl missing! ^^), thank you for it and for all the interesting collage papers, I can feel the kanelbullar coming this weekend! =^v^=
Those are really cool!
These are darling! I love the vivid colors. What a great idea.
Hey, these are delicious! thanks for the little tutorial.
They’re beautiful!! Thank you for the great tutorial.
These are beautiful - thank you for the instructions! I can’t wait to try my own (once my sewing machine is back from the shop).
:)
I don’t usually like hearts or valentine’s day stuff, but I looove yours. Good job.
oh Hanna these are so beautiful. Thank you for sharing them. NB x
What a beautiful project and so generous of you to post instructions! Your creativity is matched by your kind-heartedness!
Gorgeous hearts!
Super beautiful!!! And in perfect time for valentines day!
these are delicious. such bright colors. makes me wanna eat them.
hanna,
i actually was so inspired by yours, that i made one! check out my blog. i couldn’t find enough bright fabrics to make more but i will go shopping tomorrow. it was such fun.
Beautiful Valentines. I’m going to try to do some of these myself but don’t have any hope that mine will be a spectacular as yours. Thanks for the tutorial.
Really inspiring work, I simply adore the hearts! It’s so great to find a blog where the owner isn’t afraid to “think outside the box”
Beautiful! I hope you like the Valentines postcard I sent you.
hi
your postcards very beautiful very nice.
i make postcard too.
i live in iran.
bye mahsa
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Hanna, your Valentine postcards are so bright and wild. I love them.
I’m thinking of sewing some together to make a wall hanging.
What do you think?
Jo